I just noticed that Costco is selling 4' light tubes (compatible with old fluor fixtures) for about $8 apiece (packs of 2). 

Good to know. Thanks.

That's a good price! Wish we had a Costco around here.

51 minutes ago, lew said:

That's a good price! Wish we had a Costco around here.

Lew, we went to one in Harrisburg on our way to Gettysburg. IIRC, it was only an hour's drive.

Costco - here I come

We were just at Costco this afternoon and I saw alot of fixtures and tubes heading out. Price like that I can see why.

No COSCO close to me. I purchase 4' LED's from Sam's club and they were more than that. Wish there was one close to me.

Just a thought:  the Costco price will be repeated elsewhere within a few months, but read the instructions:  some LED tube replacements require re-wiring of the fixture.  The newest ones are plug-compatible with old fixtures:  just twist and go.  I believe the LED versions are also good with low temps:  no more flicker in the early cold morning.

I've been getting the 60 watt equivalent led bulbs from Walmart and putting together a string to go here and there. The bulbs runs about 2.25 each at four at a time. Sometimes cheaper.

   The ceramic base is cheaper than the cheapest hang down type. I,m mounting both type on 2x4 and 2x6's. Just run a groove down the back side for the wires. I do have to drill a large hole for the ceramic wire hook up. Don't remember the size but about 2" or so.

 

This second picture is in the welding area of the shop and it ain't ever had any good lighting. With the light

I have started finding things that have been lost for 15 years or more..

 

I get these ceramic bases from Zoro. com for about 1.03 each

 

  You can get this brass set up from garage sales or habitat for humanity for 2 or 3 bucks less the bulbs. Lots of these being changed out in remodels.

  I think it says each bulb will cost about 2.25 a year to run but you can probably take that with a grain of salt, what ever that means.

The costco replacement LED 4' bulbs go directly in and are much brighter than the old 4' FL tubes.  

Do the Costco lamps replace T8, or some other size?

Both T8 and T12 according to the product description.

I can only caution you guys to check and see where they are being made. HD and Lowe's were selling a lot of these retrofit (made in China) 4' bulbs. They came back in the door as quick as they went out. When I asked the CS rep at the counter why so many, she told me, that, they were burning out and stopped working after a couple of weeks.

 

I swear that these two "Big Boxes" are owned by the same parent. The prices are always within a few cents of each other and they carry a lot of the same products, that are made by the same manufacturer(s) and packaged under different labels.

 

 

For LED florescent replacement lights made in the USA, check out Hyperikon. About the same price as Costco.

They have 8' replacement tubes as well.

That is good to know ,Gene, I have been getting mine from  here: https://www.earthled.com/collections/t8-led-fluorescent-replacement-tube-lights-compatible-with-electronic-ballasts

They are a couple of dollars more ,free shipping also and a $5.00 off the first order, and are also plug and play. the ones I got from Lowes I had to wire around the ballast. Glad to see them coming down in price, the more common they become ,the cheaper they will get.

Thanks for posting.

The above tubes are made in China. Mine are still going been a couple of months now. the original regular type ballast tudes lasted only 3 years.

Herb

Edited September 28, 20169 yr by Dadio

Here is some good information on LED replacement tubes.

https://www.earthled.com/blogs/light-2-0-the-earthled-blog-led-lighting-news-tips-reviews/33135492-how-to-buy-t8-and-t12-led-fluorescent-replacement-tubes?mc_cid=8fca440f39&mc_eid=a70fd7c9ee

 

Herb

On 9/28/2016 at 2:24 PM, Dadio said:

Here is some good information on LED replacement tubes.

https://www.earthled.com/blogs/light-2-0-the-earthled-blog-led-lighting-news-tips-reviews/33135492-how-to-buy-t8-and-t12-led-fluorescent-replacement-tubes?mc_cid=8fca440f39&mc_eid=a70fd7c9ee

 

Herb

 

Good general article, Herb.

 

When you start talking tube types, ballast voltages, ballast types, etc. the average homeowner is totally lost. This article helps clear up the different types and uses for the average person.

If you opt to buy bulbs that run with the T12 ballast, how is there savings?  You are still powering the ballast.

16 hours ago, HandyDan said:

If you opt to buy bulbs that run with the T12 ballast, how is there savings?  You are still powering the ballast.

Seems like it would also still have the hum and radio interference as well. I guess I need to read the link above, put that on the list for today. This is of interest to me since I'm trying to figure out how to light my shop. I'd love to have LEDs, but at the moment it's looking way too expensive compared to T8 lamps.

There are 34 double 4' tube fixtures in my shop. I replaced 4 fixtures that were out with LED tubes. they were $13.00 each then. now they are $10.89 and $7.99/ 100 ea.

You are right HandyDan, I wired around the ballast on 2 fixtures as the ballasts were out, on the other 2 I just put the new tubes in and they lit up. Didn't have to take the fixture down and do the rewiring. At the time I wasn't thinking of the savings in electricity, I was more interested in seeing the difference in light levels. It seems as the LED's are around 20% brighter than the standard tubes. I am a little concerned about the light level if I replace all the tubes. and the cost to do so will be around $11.00/tube @ the 60 tube price.

I might be able to only light up every other fixture, don't know if I would get shadows when I am working or not,right now I don't have any shadows anywhere I work in the shop.

Fred I don't seem to have any hum, or maybe I just can't hear it, it is quiet in my world, hehheh.

Herb

Edited October 4, 20169 yr by Dadio